Latest Developments in Aluminium Reduction

Since the end of the second world war the total global prodeuction of virgin aluminium has increased very rapidly. In the year 1945 it amounted to approximately 0.85 million tons a year, whereas for 1960 about 5
million tons may be estimated.The production of aluminium has grown during this time to be one of the most important
industries. Although the aluminium works have often
been subject to a certain criticism on account of the
inflexibility of the extraction process—since in the
main the fused salt electrolysis has not altered until
this day—developments in the matter of cell design
and operating methods have made considerable progress. With regard to further awaited expansion of aluminium production plants, there exists a lively interest to expedite developments to improve cell and building layout and to ensure a more economic operation in order to reduce the previous relatively high investment and operating costs.